Imagine you have a big cookie, and your friend eats almost all of it. There's only a tiny bit left for you. You could say, 'I barely got any cookie!'
Or, let's say you have a race, and you finish just a tiny bit before the person behind you. You barely won the race!
So, 'barely' means there's only a very small amount, or something happened with great difficulty, almost not at all. It's like 'just a little bit' or 'almost not.'
§ Mistakes people make with this word
The adverb “barely” is a common word that B1 English learners encounter. While its core meaning is straightforward – indicating something happened by a very small margin or with great difficulty – there are several nuances and common pitfalls that learners often fall into. Understanding these can significantly improve accuracy and fluency.
- Mistake 1
- Using "barely" with negative words (double negation).
One of the most frequent mistakes is using "barely" with another negative word, such as "not" or "hardly." "Barely" itself carries a negative implication, meaning "almost not." Therefore, combining it with another negative creates a double negative, which can be confusing and grammatically incorrect.
Incorrect: I can't barely hear you.
Correct: I can barely hear you. (Or: I can hardly hear you.)
- Mistake 2
- Confusing "barely" with "hardly" or "scarcely" unnecessarily.
While "barely," "hardly," and "scarcely" are often interchangeable and share similar meanings of "almost not," there can be subtle differences in nuance or common collocations. Learners sometimes use them interchangeably without considering these slight variations.
- Barely: Often implies a very small margin, just enough, or with great difficulty.
- Hardly: Often suggests something is difficult to do, or almost impossible.
- Scarcely: Tends to be a bit more formal and emphasizes a lack of something or something occurring rarely.
"She could barely afford the rent." (Emphasizes just making ends meet.)
"He could hardly believe his eyes." (Emphasizes difficulty in believing.)
"There was scarcely any food left." (Emphasizes a very small quantity.)
- Mistake 3
- Incorrect placement in a sentence.
The position of "barely" can affect the meaning or sound unnatural. Generally, "barely" is placed before the main verb, or between the auxiliary verb and the main verb.
Incorrect: She passed the exam barely.
Correct: She barely passed the exam.
Correct: I had barely arrived when it started to rain.
- Mistake 4
- Overusing "barely" when simpler alternatives exist.
Sometimes, learners might use "barely" in situations where a simpler or more direct adverb would suffice, making the sentence sound a bit clunky or overly formal.
Less natural: He could barely walk because he was so tired.
More natural: He was so tired he could hardly walk. (Or: He was too tired to walk properly.)
By being mindful of these common mistakes, B1 learners can use "barely" more accurately and confidently, enhancing their overall English communication skills. Paying attention to context, sentence structure, and avoiding double negatives are key to mastering this useful adverb.
How Formal Is It?
"The evidence presented was scarcely enough to convince the jury of his innocence."
"She barely managed to catch the last train home."
"I hardly slept a wink last night with all that noise."
"The kitten was just a little bit strong enough to open the door."
"I just about made it to the concert on time, man."
स्तर के अनुसार उदाहरण
Despite the torrential downpour, they barely made it to the summit before nightfall, their equipment soaked and their resolve tested to its limits.
Despite the heavy rain, they almost didn't reach the summit before it got dark, their gear wet and their determination severely challenged.
Here, 'barely' emphasizes the extreme difficulty and narrow success of reaching the summit.
The antiquated infrastructure could barely support the burgeoning demands of the rapidly expanding metropolis, necessitating immediate and comprehensive modernization efforts.
The old infrastructure could hardly handle the growing needs of the quickly expanding city, requiring urgent and complete upgrades.
'Barely' highlights the inadequacy of the infrastructure to meet the increasing demands.
After years of meticulous research and countless setbacks, the breakthrough discovery was barely recognized by the wider scientific community, a fact that deeply disappointed the dedicated team.
After much careful research and many problems, the important discovery was almost ignored by other scientists, which made the team very upset.
In this context, 'barely recognized' indicates a lack of significant acknowledgement or appreciation for the discovery.
Her intricate philosophical treatise, though lauded by a select few, was barely comprehensible to the uninitiated, requiring extensive academic background to fully grasp its nuances.
Her complex philosophy book, though praised by a few, was almost impossible to understand for those without prior knowledge, needing a lot of academic study to fully get its details.
'Barely comprehensible' emphasizes the extreme difficulty in understanding the treatise without specific knowledge.
The global financial crisis had such a profound and pervasive impact that even the most resilient economies barely managed to avert a complete collapse, highlighting the interconnectedness of world markets.
The world financial crisis had such a deep and widespread effect that even the strongest economies almost didn't avoid a total collapse, showing how connected global markets are.
'Barely managed' underscores the narrow escape from a complete collapse, even for strong economies.
His laconic reply, barely a whisper, conveyed a depth of emotion that belied its brevity, leaving his interlocutor to ponder the unspoken implications.
His brief answer, almost a whisper, showed a lot of feeling despite being short, making the person he was talking to think about what wasn't said.
'Barely a whisper' describes the extreme softness of his voice, suggesting profound emotion.
The ancient manuscript, discovered in a remote archaeological dig, was so fragile that it could barely be handled without risking irreparable damage, necessitating painstaking preservation techniques.
The old manuscript, found in a far-off archaeological site, was so delicate that it was almost impossible to touch without damaging it, requiring very careful preservation methods.
Here, 'barely be handled' emphasizes the extreme fragility of the manuscript and the difficulty in touching it without causing harm.
The nascent political movement, though fueled by fervent idealism, barely garnered enough public support to register as a significant force, struggling to gain traction against entrenched opposition.
The new political movement, though driven by strong beliefs, almost didn't get enough public support to be seen as important, finding it hard to make progress against strong opposition.
'Barely garnered' highlights the insufficient public support obtained by the political movement.
मुहावरे और अभिव्यक्तियाँ
"barely scratch the surface"
To deal with only a very small part of a subject or problem.
We've discussed a few key points, but we've barely scratched the surface of the issue.
neutral"barely make ends meet"
To have just enough money to live on and nothing extra.
With the rising cost of living, many families are barely making ends meet.
neutral"barely keep one's head above water"
To have just enough money or resources to survive a difficult situation.
After losing his job, he was barely keeping his head above water financially.
informal"barely able to stand"
To be very weak or tired.
After running the marathon, she was barely able to stand.
neutral"barely a ripple"
To have very little effect or impact.
His resignation caused barely a ripple in the company.
neutral"barely coherent"
To be speaking or thinking in a way that is difficult to understand.
After the accident, he was barely coherent when he tried to explain what happened.
neutral"barely out of swaddling clothes"
To be very young and inexperienced.
He's barely out of swaddling clothes and already expects to be promoted.
informal"barely a whisper"
To speak very softly, or for something to be said in a very quiet way.
She spoke in barely a whisper, so I had to lean in to hear her.
neutral"barely discernable"
To be very difficult to see, hear, or notice.
The faint writing on the old map was barely discernable.
formal"barely get a word in edgewise"
To have difficulty speaking because someone else is talking a lot.
She was so excited that I could barely get a word in edgewise.
informalअसल ज़िंदगी में अभ्यास करें
वास्तविक संदर्भ
When describing a narrow escape or a close call:
- She barely managed to catch the last train.
- He barely survived the accident.
- We barely made it to the airport on time.
To indicate a minimal amount or degree of something:
- There was barely any food left in the fridge.
- I barely know him.
- The room was barely big enough for all of us.
When something is almost not perceptible or noticeable:
- I could barely hear what she was saying.
- The tiny print was barely legible.
- There was barely a ripple on the surface of the water.
To express difficulty or struggle in doing something:
- He was barely able to stand after the long hike.
- She could barely contain her excitement.
- The old car barely made it up the hill.
When referring to an insufficient amount or quality:
- The instruction manual was barely helpful.
- His explanation was barely convincing.
- The budget barely covered the essential expenses.
बातचीत की शुरुआत
"Have you ever barely avoided a difficult situation? What happened?"
"What's something you've barely started but are excited about?"
"Can you think of a time when you barely had enough of something?"
"What is something you can barely believe happened?"
"What skill have you been working on that you can now barely do, but are making progress?"
डायरी विषय
Reflect on a time when you barely achieved a goal. What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
Write about a moment when you barely noticed something important. What was the impact of this oversight?
Describe a situation where you had barely enough resources to accomplish something. How did you manage?
Think about a time you could barely contain a strong emotion. What was the situation, and how did you react?
Consider something you've barely learned or understood. What steps are you taking to improve your understanding?
खुद को परखो 36 सवाल
Imagine you tried to reach a high shelf, but you were almost too short. Write one sentence about what happened, using the word 'barely'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
I could barely reach the top shelf.
Think about a time you woke up very late and almost missed something important. Write one sentence about it, using 'barely'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
I barely woke up in time for school.
You are watching a sports game, and your team wins by a very small score. Write one sentence using 'barely' to describe the win.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Our team barely won the game.
Where was it hard to see the cat?
Read this passage:
The little cat was very shy. When people came near, it would hide. You could barely see it under the chair.
Where was it hard to see the cat?
The passage says 'You could barely see it under the chair,' meaning it was hard to see the cat there.
The passage says 'You could barely see it under the chair,' meaning it was hard to see the cat there.
What does 'barely lift it' mean?
Read this passage:
Mark tried to lift the heavy box. He used all his strength. He could barely lift it off the ground.
What does 'barely lift it' mean?
'Barely' means by a very small margin or only just, so 'barely lift it' means he lifted it with great difficulty, almost not at all.
'Barely' means by a very small margin or only just, so 'barely lift it' means he lifted it with great difficulty, almost not at all.
Why was it difficult to see the path?
Read this passage:
The sun was going down. It was getting dark very fast. We could barely see the path in front of us.
Why was it difficult to see the path?
The passage states 'It was getting dark very fast. We could barely see the path,' indicating darkness made it hard to see.
The passage states 'It was getting dark very fast. We could barely see the path,' indicating darkness made it hard to see.
Choose the sentence where 'barely' is used correctly.
'Barely' implies almost not finishing, which fits the context of finishing right before bed. The other options don't make sense with the meaning of 'barely'.
Which option best describes the meaning of 'barely' in the sentence: 'He had barely enough money for a cup of coffee.'
'Barely enough' means he had just a very small amount, almost insufficient.
In which sentence does 'barely' suggest difficulty?
Difficulty in hearing due to the crowd fits the meaning of 'barely' in this context. The other sentences use 'barely' incorrectly for the intended meaning.
The sentence 'I barely caught the bus' means I caught the bus with plenty of time to spare.
'Barely caught the bus' means I caught it by a very small margin, almost missing it, not with plenty of time.
If you say 'The plant barely survived the winter,' it means the plant was very healthy.
'Barely survived' means the plant almost didn't make it, indicating it was not very healthy.
The statement 'She was barely visible in the fog' implies that she was difficult to see.
'Barely visible' means she could only just be seen, indicating difficulty in seeing her.
The old bridge was so fragile that it could _______ support the weight of a single person.
The context implies that the bridge had great difficulty supporting even one person, aligning with 'barely'.
After weeks of intense studying, he _______ managed to pass the challenging final exam.
The sentence suggests he passed with great difficulty, making 'barely' the appropriate choice.
The music was so quiet that I could _______ hear the melody from the back of the hall.
This indicates that hearing the melody was difficult due to the low volume, so 'barely' fits.
With only five minutes left, they _______ had enough time to finish their presentation.
The phrase 'only just' in terms of time is conveyed by 'barely' in this context.
She was so exhausted after the long journey that she could _______ keep her eyes open.
The exhaustion made it very difficult for her to keep her eyes open, hence 'barely'.
The tiny apartment was so cramped that there was _______ enough space for a small table.
This implies that the space was very limited, allowing 'barely' enough room for the table.
After weeks of intense studying, she _____ managed to pass the challenging exam.
'Barely' is the correct choice as it implies she passed with great difficulty or by a very small margin, fitting the context of an 'intense studying' and a 'challenging exam'.
The old bridge was in such a state of disrepair that it could _____ support the weight of a single car.
'Barely' suggests that the bridge could only just support the weight, indicating its poor condition, which aligns with 'state of disrepair'.
Despite a last-minute surge in sales, the company _____ reached its quarterly targets.
Given the 'last-minute surge' implying a struggle, 'barely' accurately conveys that they only just managed to meet the targets, by a very small margin.
If you barely touched the stove, it means you placed your hand firmly on it.
'Barely touched' means you touched it very lightly, or only just, not firmly.
When someone says they barely remember something, it implies they have a very clear recollection of it.
To 'barely remember' something means you remember it only vaguely or with difficulty, not clearly.
If a movie barely held your attention, it means you found it extremely engaging.
If a movie 'barely held your attention', it means it was difficult to stay interested in it, implying it was not very engaging.
The company's groundbreaking research had barely any impact on the market, despite initial high hopes. What does 'barely' imply in this context?
In this context, 'barely' emphasizes the very small and almost negligible nature of the impact, contrasting with the initial high hopes.
Despite the intricate planning, the expedition barely managed to avoid a catastrophic avalanche. Which of the following best describes the situation?
'Barely managed to avoid' indicates that they succeeded by a very narrow margin, implying a high degree of difficulty and a near-disaster.
The philosopher's abstruse theories were barely comprehensible to even the most seasoned scholars. What does 'barely comprehensible' suggest about the theories?
'Barely comprehensible' means that understanding was achieved only with great difficulty and for a very select few, highlighting the complexity of the theories.
If a plant is described as 'barely alive,' it means it is thriving and flourishing.
'Barely alive' implies the plant is very close to dying, existing with only a minimal amount of life, which is the opposite of thriving.
When a speaker 'barely whispers,' it means their voice is loud and clear.
'Barely whispers' suggests an extremely quiet utterance, almost inaudible, which contradicts a loud and clear voice.
If a project 'barely met the deadline,' it means it was completed with ample time to spare.
'Barely met the deadline' indicates that the project was completed just in time, with very little or no time left over, not with ample time.
Focus on the difficulty of reading the manuscript.
Consider the effort involved in holding back a reaction.
Think about the precarious financial situation described.
Read this aloud:
Despite the torrential rain, we barely made it to the summit before the storm worsened, our efforts almost in vain.
Focus: barely made it
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
His subtle sarcasm was barely perceptible to those unfamiliar with his nuanced humor, often misunderstood by newcomers.
Focus: barely perceptible
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
The reclusive author, known for his elusive nature, barely granted interviews, preferring his privacy above all else.
Focus: barely granted
तुमने कहा:
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/ 36 correct
Perfect score!
